Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The Fall of Summer: 36 Freehold Threats for Changeling the Lost

The “Threat Generator” from Mutant: Year Zero is one of my recent fav pieces of game tech. It’s an old technique, but they nicely repackage it. It doesn’t hurt that MYZ has a cool card deck version. I dig pulling a
threat just before a session and quickly brainstorming ideas. It’s a
good way to keep myself from over-prepping or throwing too many incidents at
the players.

So I’m creating these for other games. I’m in the middle of
running my Changeling the LostPbtA
hack, so I started with that. Below I offer 36 short threats facing the
Freehold. Though I don’t say it, these should connect to the PCs, putting them in
harm’s way, endangering something they love, or giving them a chance to solve
the problem. They contain a few questions, but not much detail. Some
are obvious, but I think I have a few novel ones. If you want to check out
videos from my current CtL game, check here (Session 1, Session 2).

1. Sabotage

Someone or something ruins the resources of the Freehold.
Vindictive Hobs? A traitor within? The Gentry? Things disrupted or stolen could
be things, places, or people. Can the motley protect their own resources—allies,
tokens, hedge-fruits?

2. Hobs on the
Warpath

The Hobs trade with the Changelings but they don’t like
them. They’re tricky and nasty, living for a chance to get over something on
the Lost. Now the Hob community is enraged. They shutter the Markets and begin
attacking those who enter the Hedge. What happened and how can they stop it?

3. Goblin Market
Changes

The Goblin Market moves, imposes new laws, adds strange new
shops, offers a sale on ‘special’ merchandise they need to move, bans certain
changelings, splits, or “re-brands” itself in some way. This occurs suddenly
and without warning.

4. Hob Takeover

Someone takes over and begins to direct the Hobs: a
strangely potent goblin, a rogue changeling, something from the Hedge, or a
figure behind the scenes. What are they making the Hobs do and why?
Alternately, a split and internal struggle among the Hobs reveals factions.

5. Season Comes Early

Mysteriously the changing of the seasonal Courts comes
early. Omens and portents appear. Everyone feels it in their bones. Why is this
happening? What does it mean for the local politics? Who gains and loses? Consider
connecting it to strange shifts in weather, changes at court, or new arrivals.

6. The Exile’s Return

Changelings rarely impose imprisonment or death as
punishment. Instead exile clears away severe transgressions. An exile returns,
having served their lengthy sentence. They may upset the local power balance,
dredge up old animosities, or present opportunities for revenge. Where have
they been? How have they survived? Is the exile’s crime known or secret? Were
they justly punished? What unfinished business do they have?

7. Exiled Illegally
Returns

An exile somehow manages to pass through the wards and
return. They’re spotted, there’s no proof of their location, only rumors. Why
have they come back early? Did someone collude to gain them entry? If this is
someone know to the motley do they owe debts to one another?

8. Strange
Changeling(s) Seen

Rumors fly of one (or more) unknown changelings seen in the Freehold.
Often new escapees from the Hedge run wild for a time before being met and
brought in. But these strangers have deliberately evaded contact. Are they
Loyalists? Refugees from another Freehold? Bridge-burners? Someone has to track
them down and find out.

9. Changelings Go
Missing

Known members of the Freehold have not been heard from. These
person(s) should connect to motley members. Does the motley know their den or
hollow is? If the vanished are courtless who might they have contacted or
confided in? If they’re from a court, why hasn’t anyone followed up? Perhaps
this signals the coming of a new supernatural threat.

10. Fetches Vanish

The Freehold tracks fetches within its borders. They’re
strange and dangerous things. If a fetch is tied to a member of the Freehold,
then final judgement remains in that person’s hand. If they’re not, they indicate
a stolen and unreturned life. Now several fetches have suddenly disappeared,
leaving their pseudo-families and lives disrupted. Is a changeling doing this?
Is there some conspiracy among the fetches? Is there a mortal hunter after
them? Is one of the fetches that of a PC?

11. Treasure of the Freehold
Stolen

A prized token or relic has been stolen from the Freehold or
one of the Courts. What strange details have emerged about the thief’s methods?
What perils await if the object is not returned? Has the finger already been
pointed at someone, perhaps the motley or one of their allies?

12. Supernatural
Monster

A mysterious monster appears, striking humans and
changelings alike. Is it completely new or are there legends surrounding it? If
it hasn’t emerged from the Hedge, where has it come from? Does it point to
other supernatural sources and agents? Does a member of the Freehold know more
than they’re saying?

13. Occult
Investigators

A group of paranormal investigators arrives in the city and
begin poking around. If they’re mundane, they stir up attention making life
difficult. Changelings already have a hard time blending in. Will someone direct
the researchers towards them? Is there an opportunity there? Alternately these
might be serious Hunters, pursuing supernatural creatures to capture or
eliminate them. Perhaps one identity’s a cover for the other.

14. Maddened Family
Member

A close family member, related to someone from the motley or
an ally, cracks. They’ve encountered their changeling loved one. Now experience
of that seems to have snapped them. Their actions threaten do harm to
themselves or even threaten the Freehold. How can the PCs fix this? Is there
something more sinister behind this breakdown?

15. Hedge Fruit
Bounty Found

Someone discovers a massive hedge fruit garden and now
factions compete to learn the location, seize control, or simply steal what’s
there. The fruit rush threatens existing relationships and debts within the Freehold.

16. Resources Run Out

Something vital to the Freehold or the motley runs out:
money sources are cut, ID forgers get arrested, hedge fruit supplies dry up, or
potent places of glamour run dry. Is this a natural occurrence or enemy action?
Can these sources be restored or will something new have to be discovered?

17. Changeling Jailed

The police catch someone from the Freehold and jail them.
What are they accused of? What did they actually do? Why can’t they escape from
jail—is something stopping them or do they want to be there? What obligation
does the Freehold have and what debts might the motley have to the incarcerated
changeling? Will something happen if this person isn’t freed?

18. Changeling on the
Run

An ally of the motely falls under a judgement: accused of a
crime, convicted of an offense, threatened with a debt. The circumstances are
murky and mysterious. Who is in the wrong? Should they stick their necks out
for them?

19. Another Freehold
Destroyed

News comes that the closest Freehold has been destroyed. Was
it a subtle vanishing or did something oud and obvious happen? Was anyone
warned? Were there any survivors? Does this threat still remain, and if so,
will their Freehold be next?

20. Old Secrets
Uncovered

Documents, testimony, relics, images—something from the past--
rises back. It could concern a particular court or the Freehold as a whole. That
might be evidence of a crime, questions of succession, ties to a changeling’s
kidnapping, a treasure map, or an ancient ritual. Now several factions seek to
control the secrets—to reveal, destroy, or change them.

21. Illness or Curse

Something begins to take a toll on the Freehold- a magical
malady. It could be a bout of fever dreams, a sleepless malaise, or a curse to
lost items. Was this deliberate, accidental, or something released through
sheer stupidity? It is contagious and is there a patient zero? Alternately, the
illness strikes the mundane world and the fallout impacts changelings.

22. Location Threated

The commons for the Freehold or a particular court comes
under fire. Alternately it could target the motley’s hollow, den, or gathering
space. The authorities or neighbors could examine it too closely or the owners have
gone broke. If the structure’s abandoned, perhaps developers consider renovation
or demolition. If the location has some supernatural power, a group seek to
control it for their own ends. Maybe something dangerous has made its nest
there. If stopping the threat isn’t possible, then the group may have to deal
with evacuation or just finding a new place.

23. Supernatural
Cabal No Good

Non-changeling supernaturals arrive in the Freehold city and
set up shop. Consider a workshop of Prometheans, Mummies on the run, an Orpheus
franchise, Demon surveillance operatives, or a Hedge Mage chantry. Even if they
don’t cross paths with the Freehold, they bring their own problems and foes.
They also complete for magical resources and sites. Can a beneficial agreement
be made or are these to be unrelenting rivals?

24. False ID’s Compromised

Individual courts or the Freehold as a whole usually provide
false identities, cards, and paperwork. They do this via magic and mundane
techniques. Now that process has been compromised and all of those identities
have been blown or are threatened. Can the motley reverse this? Can they find
their own sources to cover their ass? What are the consequences of this loss?
Will foes take advantage of this?

25. Murdered Courtier

A titled courtier has been killed. Old schisms and tensions flare
up. An open conflict may erupt if the murder’s not found. Or perhaps there’s a
quiet cover-up suggesting more sinister forces at work. Maybe someone’s already
been chosen as a patsy-- a member of the motley or a close friend.

26. Loyalist Revealed

Someone uncovers evidence suggesting a changeling has strongly
colluded with a Keeper for some time. How is this discovered? How badly did
they damage the Freehold? Are the accusations true? Changelings have a
difficult time with punishments, given their own experience. How does the Freehold
deal with this? Who are the competing voices about responses?

27. Bounty of Hot
Goods

An ally or associate drops off a bundle of “hot goods” on
the motley’s doorstep. Will they keep or return them? If they try to return
them, will they drag their friend into in? What if some of these items belong
to enemies? Consider if the loot consists of magical, mundane, or mixed items.

28. Overthrow

Someone overthrows a Prince. Was it a long time coming or a
sudden shock? How do other members of the court react? How does the new Prince
solidify their power: contracts, debts, kindness, force? How do the other
Princes react—do they accept happily or look for potential usurpers in their
own houses? What has happened to the former prince?

29. Schism Between
Courts

Tensions burn hot between two courts. Does it come from the
top or rank & file? Does this divide the motley? How will they take sides?
What claims does each side make? How openly does this conflict break out? Is
someone manipulating things behind the scenes or is this simply the way of
things? How will this affect the Freehold’s protections?

30. Romance Gone Sour

The Freehold is a web of social interactions which can be
rent asunder by the smallest things. Two well-regarded and well-connected
changelings have been a passionate couple. Now they’re bitter social foes. How
did the break up start? What does each say about the other? What’s the truth?
Ideally the two figures should both be connected to the Motley. Both persons
involved want others to take sides. Third party changelings may sucked into
this whirlpool.

31. Virtue/Vice
Overwhelms

The Changeling
core suggests GMs assign Freeholds a virtue and vice. . The “default” has been
the Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues, but these
can be mixed up. For this threat one of those elements begins to overwhelm or
run amok. Perhaps they’re seen small signs, but now it is out of control. If
tied to emotion it may impact glamour for the Freehold.

32. Horde of New
Arrivals

From somewhere, a large number of changelings arrive:
escapees from the Hedge, refugees from a tyrannical Freehold, wanderers coming
in from the wilds. The Freehold can take in one or two at a time, even a small
motley taxes resources, cover, and patience. How can the courts cope? Will they
send them on? What dangers might be hidden by these numbers?

33. Hedge Weirdness

Something shifts massive in the Hedge. Well established
trods, hollows, or other sites vanish or transform. Is this a natural phenomenon
or someone’s working? What does it herald? What has been lost and how can it be
replaced? Alternately could this be an open or hidden assault by Bridge
Burners?

34. Motley Vanishes
into Hedge

Motelys happen rarely. To truly bind a group must escape the
Hedge together or arrive in the Freehold at nearly the same time. They provide
a community of trust most changelings can’t experience. Now one of the few
motleys besides the PCs goes missing. They walk into the Hedge on a secret
quest and none hear from them. Why did they go? Did someone sabotage their
preparations? Will they be rescued? Can they be rescued?

35. Revelation to
Mortal

Truly revealing yourself to a mortal runs great risks. You
can tear away the Mask, but many will deny your Mien s to preserve their
sanity. They retreat to the commonplace world and label incidents as madness. Some
seem to hold it together but then snap from the strain. Now someone seems have to
come through stable and reconciled to this new reality. But how long will they
stay that way? Who is it? What would move a changeling to take this gamble? How
did they prepare?

36. New Holidays

Someone establishes a new ritual for the Freehold: games, a
celebration, and grand party. What’s new and novel about this? What’s the
motivation behind it? If a contest, what prizes might they offer? Perhaps the
motley has to help with preparations or planning. For some more thoughts on
Changelings and holidays, see this post.